Directions…

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.                                                                                                                                          Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)

I have been a counselor for over 40 years, and over the years I have seen thousands of clients. I am in the profession because it is a calling for me, and I am fortunate to be able to practice what I love to do. As in many careers, I believe, the direction of my career has not always been a simple, straight path.

I began my career as a social worker in Montgomery County, leaving my home in Cincinnati to take the job. It was not too long before I took a position at the Dayton Mental Health Center (now long since closed), and I began a journey of learning about mental health. After a few years there, I took a position at a community mental health center, at the time a new service delivery model for mental health in the 1970’s.

I did not have a clear-cut plan in mind regarding this career path. In looking back, it has become crystal clear to me that the hand of God was doing things for me that I could not do for myself. I had not carefully planned this path. Rather, opportunities showed up for me and I simply made a choice for the next job that seemed to be the right fit.

I had no idea when I started that I would be following a path that allowed me to use the gifts God had given me in the particular way that they unfolded. The way that some of these opportunities came about were clearly not coincidence.

I tell my clients that there does not need to be just one path to take that is God’s plan for us. As long as we set about to serve him and honor him in it, he can bless any path we choose. I have been completely blessed in my career, and yet, I did not set forth with a particular “plan” for that career.

The point is, if we honor God in whatever we do, he can bless it and give us joy in it, whatever that job or career is.

I trust that you are in that place of peace in your working life.  

Prayer: Thank you Father for giving us direction, even when we are not sure of the next step, Amen